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WILLIAM A. MORSE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 64,440, dated llfay 7, 1867.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. MORSE, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and Sta-te of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful improvement in Stair-Rods; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying` drawings.

The nature of my invention consists in making a stair-rod of paper, paper pulp, or cloth, or other equivalent fibrous material, or the combination or" two or more of such materials stiffened, an-d formed by pressure in dies, moulds, or otherwise, said paper or other material having been previously soaked or saturated with a solution of starch, gum, or glue, after which it is ornamented, by gilding or otherwise, to represent brass. By this means I amable to produce stair-rods that are very durable and require no cleaning, they are not afl'ected by atmospheric changes like highly-finished brass now commonly used.A They llook, when in use, in every respect as well as the most costly brass stair-rods now in useL and do not cost one-eighth part as much.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I construct my stairrod in any of the known forms, and use, for that purpose, paper, paper pulp, telt, cloth, leather, or a combination of two or more of said materials. I generally use pasteboard, and out it int-o strips of any desired width, then immerse it in a solution of paste, glue, or gum until completely saturated. I then remove it, and before pressing or forming I allow it to become partially dry. I then subject it to a. pressure in dies or moulds suitable to give it the desired form, as shown in Figure I, which is a front view, and Figure 2 an end view. After taken from the die and allowed to dry it becomes very hard and still, and presents a smooth surface. I then gild the front or outside, usually with gold lacquer suchvas is used to ornament Window curtains. Gold bronze applied in the usual Way, or gold leaf, makes a very ornamental finish. If made of other fibrous material above named, or the same in combination, the process is substantially the same. I sometimes use light stock, and insert a thin piece of wood or metal in the back side, and firmly attached there, as a stilening. My improved stair-rod made in any of the usual forms may be attached to its pla-ce by the usual appliances for that purpose.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of my improvement, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. I claim a stair-rod made of paper, paper pulp, felt, cloth, leather, or other equivalent brous material, lacquered, gilded, or otherwise ornamcnted to resemble highly-{inishcd br'ass, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

2. I claim the use of paper, paper pulp, felt, cloth, or leather, either separate or in combination, in the manufacture of stair-rods, substantially as speci'tied and for the purpose set forth.

I claim the use of either ofthe above-named,materials in combination with wood or metal, substantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM A. MORSE.

Witnesses: Y

.Linus G. HENRY, SALMON B. Soares. 

